Method of and apparatus for producing paper cups



nm'raon OF AND APPARATUS ron PRODUCING PAPER curs Oct. 1, 1940. F. P. SWALLOW ET AL Filed Oct. 28, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 7227672far15= Fi'PANC/S P SWALLQW H W M S m m% m M E m@ (k t 1, 0- -F. P. swALLbw ET AL A 2,215,331

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING PAPER-CUPS Filed Oct. 28, 1958 A 2 Sheets-sheaf? 34 072s:- A Fk zvc/s BS/WALLOW gig. Q TRED/ck CSM/TH Patented. Oct. 1, 1940 UNITED STATES METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING PAPER CUPS Francis P. Swallow and Fredrick C. Smith, Worcester, Mass, assigndrs to United States Envelope Company, Springfield, Mass, a corporationof Maine Application October 28, 1938, Serial No. 237,536

12 Claims.

The present invention relates to the manufacture of paper drinking cups, of the type comprising a tubular sleeve-like body and a separatelyv formed, disk-like bottom portion located within the body and adhesively secured to the body wall at one end, to provide a water-tight closure for the cup.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved method of and apparatus for producing cups of the above indicated character, the invention being partlcularly concerned with the attachment of a bottom disk to a cup sleeve, in such a manner that an extremely close watertight junction is obtained between the cup parts. The above and other advantageous features of the invention will hereinafter more fully appear from the following description, considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a diagrammatic view, showing the general relation that exists between various steps in the formation of a cup, in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view, illustrating the cup forming operations indicated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of a mechanism for producing cup bottoms anddelivering them to a cup forming station.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view along the line 5--5 of Fig." 3.

Fig. 6 shows the application of gum to a cup sleeve, preparatory to the final positioning of a cup bottom.

Fig. 7 shows the cup bottom in register with the gum on a sleeve.

Fig. 8 illustrates spinning of the end of the tom flange.

Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate the steps of interlocking and compressing the engaged flanges on the cup sleeve and bottom.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view along the line ll-ll of Fig. 9. r i

Fig. 12 shows the appearance of a completed cup.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary view, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of the cup shown in Fig. '7.

Before proceeding with a detailed description of the various steps and related apparatus for carrying out the invention, a general description of the mode of operation involved will first be 55 outlined, with reference to the diagrammatic views of Figs. 1 and 2. As shown, a stack of cup sleeve, preparatory to engaging the cup bot- 1 has a band of gum 3 applied to one straight edge thereof, and upon arrival at the form 2, the gummed blank is operated upon by suitable Wrapping devices, indicated at 4. Operation of the device 4 serves to wrap the blank around the form 2, with its straight edges in overlying relation, and with the gum 3 forming a seam extending longitudinally of the frusto-conical sleeve 5.

The particular mechanisms for wrappingeach gummed blank around a cup form 2, are no part of the present invention, and are merely indicated as being of the type fully shown and described in Patent No. 1,876,931, issued September 13, 1932. 0bviously, other types of mechanism may be employed for the purpose of providing a frusto-conical cup sleeve on a form 2, since the invention has wholly to do with the formation of bottom disks and their subsequent positioning in and cooperation with previously formed cup sleeves, for the purpose of providing water-tight closures for the finished cups.

For purposes of illustration, the cup form 2 is shown as being mounted on a rotatable turret 6, in association with a plurality of similar cup forms, and the turret is given a step-by-step rotative movement, so as to bring each form 2, with a cup sleeve 5 thereon, into register with various lnstrumentalities, at stations indicated A to .35, inclusive. At these stations, previously formed bottom disks are inserted in the cup sleeves 5 and subsequently adhered thereto by a series of operations, hereinafter described. These bottom disks may be conveniently punched from a web I that extends adjacent to the first station A, and as best shown in Fig. 2, each bottom disk 8, punched from the Web 1, is formed with an annular flange 9.

At station A, a bottom disk 8 is inserted, with its flange trailing in the smaller end of a cup sleeve 5 carried by a form 2, with the disk loosely positioned in the sleeve 5 at an appreciable distance from the end thereof. At station B, an annular band of gum I0 is applied to the inside of the smaller end of the cup sleeve, after which, at station C, the bottom disk 8 is shifted to bring its flange 9 in register with the gum Ill. A portion of the sleeve 5 then extends beyond the flange of the bottom disk, and this portion is next spun over at right angles to the axis of the sleeve, as indicated at station D. The spun-over lip at 50 the end of the cup is then turned inwardly into overlapping relation with the flange 9, as indicated at station E, after which the interlocked flanges are expanded radially outward to compress the same and cause close adhesion between 5 the gummed parts, as indicated at station F.

' When a bottom disk 8 is shifted from its original position within a cup sleeve 5, its flange 9 engages the gum l0, and the present invention contemplates a procedure whereby the gum H) 60 will not be appreciably disturbed by the advancing edge of the flange 9. In order. to accomplish this result, each bottom disk 8' is formed so as to provide a series of crimps I I extending around the periphery of the flange 9, and there will next be described suitable mechanism for cutting and crimping a bottom disk 8, as well as for inserting it in a cup sleeve, in advance of the gum applying operation.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, the web I is fed across a die plate I2, providing openings I3 and I4 of different diameters. A punch sleeve I5 cooperating with opening I3 serves to sever a bottom disk blank from the web I, as indicated in dotted lines, after which a second internal punch I6 is projected beyond the end of the punch sleeve l5 to thrust the blank through the smaller die opening I I, so as to form a flange 8. The flanged disk on the end of the punch I6 is then engaged with a rotatably driven tool I'I, it being noted that the end portion of the punch I6 provides serrations I611, and is free to turn. While the disk 8 is rotated by contact with the tool I I, the serrated surface of a crimping roll I8, mounted on a reciprocatory carriage I8a, is brought into engagement with the flange 9. A series of crimps II are thus formed around the periphery of the flange 9 by cooperationbetween the serrated surfaces of the roll I8 and punch end, after which the punch I6 and the roll I8 are withdrawnfleaving the crimped bottom disk 8 held on the tool H by suitable suction means, as shown by pipe IIa. v 77 A reciprocatory slide I9, having an opening I9a in which the disk 8 is received during the crimping operation, then moves upwardly to carry the disk into register with a holder 20 that is slightly tapered inwardly in the direction of an alined cup form 2 at station A of the'turret 6. A cup sleeve 5 is carried by the cup form 2, and a transfer plunger 2I then projects the bottom disk 8 through the holder 28 to insert the disk within the smaller end of the cu .lsleeve, after .which the plunger 2I withdraw The slight in;v .8 ward taper of the holder 20 tendstggmewhat contract the crimped flange 9, so that the disk enters readily within the small end of the cup sleeve. Obviously, a bottom disk 8 with crimps II formed in its flange 9, can be produced by means other than the particular mechanism of Figs. 3 and 4, which is shown for purposes of illustration.

After the insertion of a crimped bottom disk 8 at station A, the turret 6 is turned one step, to move the cup sleeve and disk to the next station B. As best shown in Fig. 6, the bottom disk 8 with its crimped flange 9 facing towards the smaller end of the surrounding sleeve 5, then rests loosely within the sleeve, the disk 8 being supported in a substantially vertical position by a head 22 mounted on a rod 22a movable within the cup form 2. While the cup sleeve remains at this station B, gum I0 is applied around the inside thereof substantially up to the crimped flange of the disk 8.

The gum I8 is applied to the inside of the sleeve 5 by means of a gumming element 23 of less diameter than the open end of a sleeve, and movable with respect to the sleeve, by means of a reciprocatory carrier 24. The gumming element 23 is mounted on a cylindrical holder 25 that is received within an opening 26 of the carrier, eccentric with respect to the central axis of the carrier 24, and the element is carried by a spindle 23a eccentric within the holder 25.

When the gumming element 23 is inserted within the open end of the cup sleeve and the holder 25 is turned through a portion of a revolution, the combined eccentricities of the spindle, the carrier and the holder, cause the element 23 to engage the wall of the sleeve 5. Rotation of the carrier 24 then applies the gum I0 in an annular band extending beyond the flange Set the bottom disk substantially to the edge of the sleeve.

After application of the gum Ill within the open end of the cup sleeve 5, the turret moves the gummed sleeve to station C, Fig. '7, where a tool 21 lightly engages the end of the cup sleeve 5, so as to prevent any movement thereof on the cup form 2. The rod 22a carrying the head 22 is then moved within the cup form to cause the head 22 to engage the bottom disk and shift it towards the gum I8. When the bottom disk 8 is so moved, the crimps II of the disk flange 9, engage the gum It) only at spaced points around the inner periphery of the sleeve. Therefore, as indicated in Fig. 13, the gum I0 is not wiped off by the movement of the flange 9, but tends to be concentrated in the spaces between the crimps II. Owing to the fact that the disk 8 is moved toward the smaller end of the sleeve, and is backed up by the head 22, the disk 8 remains in the position of Fig. 7, in register with the gum I0, during subsequent operations performed on the sleeve and the disk.

Referring now to Fig. 8, which shows the cup sleeve as having been moved to station D, a rotating spinning tool 28 is caused to engage the end of the sleeve 5 and spin over the gummed endportion of the sleeve, which extends beyond the disk 8. The'tool 28 is then withdrawn, and the turret turned again to bring the cup form with the spun-over sleeve to the next station E, as shown in Fig. 9. At'this station, a cylindrical tool 29, having a diameter less than the inside of the bottom disk flange 9, is moved into the cup sleeve to engage the spun-over lip and convert it into an annular flange 30, loosely surrounded by the crimped flange 9. Since the act of spinning over the end of the cup sleeve 5 results in the formation of irregular crimps, due to the contraction of the material, the turnedin flange 30 will have a considerable irregularity of contour that causes it to interlock with the crimps II, this relation between the flanges 9 and 30being shown clearly in Fig. 11.

Upon withdrawal of the tool 29, the turret is turned through another step to bring the cup with the interlocked flanges 9 and 30 into posie tion at the final station F, as shown in Fig. 10. At this" station, an outside form 3| having an opening-3H1 with the same taper as the smaller end of the cup sleeve 5, is moved to engage the end of the cup sleeve. The form 3| is held by a casing 32 that is adapted for shifting movement with a carrier 33 which is also adapted to receive rotative movement. The carrier provides an opening 34 eccentric with respect to the carrier axis for receiving a holder 35 for an i oning tool 36. The tool spindle 36a is eccentric with respect to the holder axis, and when the tool 36 is first inserted within the cup sleeve flanges and then turned through a portion of a revolution, the combined'eccentricities of the spindle, the holder and the carrier, cause the tool to closely engage the interlocked flanges 9 and 30, which are surrounded by the form 3|. Rotation of the carrier 33 then causes close compression of the flanges 9 and 30 by the ironing tool 36, in cooperation with the form ll, which is held against rotation. by its casing 32.

As a result of subjecting the interlocked flanges 9 and 30 to action of the tool 36, the

crimping shown in Fig. 11 is entirely ironed out, and the gum between the crimps thoroughly distributed between the bottom disk flange 9 and the wall of the cup sleeve. The lower portion of a completed cup is shown in section in Fig. 12, from which it is evident that the flanges 9 and 30 are in very close engagement, with the upturned flange 30 presenting a smooth annular surface. In a completed cup, the bottom disk 8 is therefore .very firmly adhered to the cup sleeve 5, with the junction between the bottom disk flange 9 and the wall of the sleeve being entirely water-tight.

We claim:

1. The improvement in making cups, which consists in providing a circular disk having peripheral serrations extending axially of a surrounding sleeve having an internal application of gum near one end spaced from said serrations, shifting said disk axially of said sleeve to engage only the outer edges of said serrations with said gum, and then applying pressure to smooth out said. serrations and cause adhesion of said disk to the sleeve by the gum remaining between the edgesof said serrations.

2. The improvement in making cups, which consists in providing a circular disk having peripheral serrations extending axially of a surrounding sleeve having an internal application of gum near one end spaced from said serrations,

v shifting said disk axially of said sleeve to engage only the outer edges of said serrations with said gum, and then applying pressure around the inside of said serrations to smooth out the same and cause their adhesion to the sleeve by the gum remaining between the edges of said serrations.

3. The improvement in making cups, which consists in providing a circular disk having peripheral serrations extending axially of a surrounding sleeve having an internal application of gum near one end spaced from said serrations, shifting said disk axially of said sleeve to engage only the outer edges of said serrations with said gum, and then turning over the end of said sleeve to interlock with said serrations and cause adhesion of said disk to the sleeve by the gum remaining between the edges of said serrations.

4. The improvement in making cups, which consists in providing a circular disk having peripheral serrations extending axially of a surrounding sleeve having an internal application of gum near one end spaced from said serrations, shifting said disk axially 01 said sleeve to engage only the outer edges of said serrations with said gum, and then turning over the end of said sleeve to compress and smooth out said serrations into adhesive engagement with said sleeve.

5. The improvement in making cups, which consists in positioning a circular disk with a crimped flange within a sleeve, providing an internal application of gum to said sleeve adjacent to said disk, shifting said disk axially within the sleeve to bring its flange into register with said gum, turning over said sleeve, beyond the disk, into interlocking relation with said disk flange and finally expanding the engaged parts to smooth out the crimping of said flange.

6. The improvement in making cups, which consists in initially positioning a circular disk with a crimped flange within a sleeve, providing an application of gum around the inside of said sleeve adjacent to said flange, shifting said disk axially within said sleeve to engage its flange crimps with said gum, turning over the end of said sleeve to provide a flange loosely surrounding said crimped disk flange, and finally compressing the engaged flanges to remove the crimping. I

7. The improvement in making cups, which consists in providing a circular disk with a crimped flange, inserting said disk through the small end of a tapered sleeve, providing said sleeve near one end with an internal application of gum adjacent said flange, shifting said disk axially of said sleeve into register with said gum,

' with only the outer points of said crimped flange engaging the gum, and finally flanging over the end of said sleeve to engage and smooth out said disk flange.

8. A step in the making of cups, involving a sleeve provided with an internal application of gum partially engaged only at intervals with the edges of serrations formed around the periphery of a circular bottom disk, with said gum extending beyond said disk, which consists in engaging a turned-over end of said sleeve with the inside edges of said serrations and in compressing the engaged sleeve and serrations to cause adhesion of said disk to the sleeve by the gum left between the edges of said serrations and the gum remaining on said turnedover sleeve end.

9. A step in the making of cups, involving a sleeve provided with an internal application of gum partially engaged only at intervals by the edges of serrations formed on the flange of a. circular bottom disk, with said gum extending beyond said flange, which consists in engaging a turned-over end of said sleeve with the inside edges of saidserrations, and in pressing the engaged sleeve and disk flange to smooth out said serrations.

10. Apparatus for producing paper cups, comprising means for forming a circular disk with a flange, means for crimping the flange and means for inserting said disk, with itsflange already crimped, in one end of a previously formed cup sleeve.

11. Apparatus for producing paper cups, comprising means for forming a circular disk with a flange, means-for crimping the flange, means for inserting said disk, with its flange already crimped, in one end of a previously formed cup sleeve, means for applying gum to the inside of said sleeve adjacent to the flange of said disk and means for shifting said disk axially of said sleeve into register with said gum.

12. Apparatus for producing paper cups, comprising means for forming a circular disk with a flange, means for crimping the flange, means for inserting said disk, with its flange already crimped in one end of a previously formed cup sleeve, means for applying gum to the inside of said sleeve adjacent to the flange of said disk, means for shifting said disk axially of said sleeve into register with said gum, means for turning over the end of said sleeve to loosely engage said crimped disk flange and means for applying pressure to the engaged sleeve and disk portions to 

